‘Glenda’ death toll balloons to 51

The number of fatalities caused by typhoon “Glenda” (Rammasun) surged to 51 Thursday, as authorities recieved more reports of casualties from Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) region, where the storm knocked down many power and telecommunication lines.

Storm-caused deaths rose to 33 in Calabarzon alone and three people are still missing, according to a report from the Office of Civil Defense 4A.

Eleven died in Laguna, followed by eight in Quezon, six in Batangas, five in Cavite, and three in Rizal.

Most of the fatalities were hit by falling trees, collapsing walls, and other storm debris, while some drowned and one suffered heart attack while being rescued, according to the report.

One of the fatalities in the OCD-4A report, identified as Mario Moral, was captain of a fishing boat that capsized off Cavite City on Wednesday because of rough sea conditions caused by “Glenda.”

Navy personnel found Moral’s body near their base in Sangley Point past 3 p.m. and rescued his four companions, according to a report from the Cavite provincial police.

“Quezon province is the hardest hit by typhoon ‘Glenda.’ The region is still waiting for reports of local governments whose communication lines were damaged, which resulted in the slow generation and submission of reports,” OCD 4A director Vicente Tomazar said in his report.

One of the fatalities in Central Luzon, identified as 69-year-old Pacita Janggui, suffered a stroke when the roof of her house in Sto. Tomas, Pampanga, was blown off by the typhoon’s strong winds, according to the NDRRMC.

The fatality in Western Visayas, Felipe Royo, was previously reported as missing. He was carried away by waters of a river that he tried to cross in Janiuay, Iloilo.

The storm also destroyed at least P1.135 billion worth of crops and livestock in Central Luzon, Mimaropa, and Bicol, and left at least P49.1 million worth of damage to infrastructure in Bataan, Nueva Ecija, and Metro Manila, according to the NDRRMC. (John Roson)